Rubbish tips ban 'won't prompt retaliation'

12 hours ago

Andy GiddingsWest Midlands

News image — Halesfield is one of two Telford recycling centres which can only be used by Telford and Wrekin residents

Google The entrance to a tarmac-covered area with a white car in the foreground and large metal containers in the background, along with a number of traffic cone — Halesfield is one of two Telford recycling centres which can only be used by Telford and Wrekin residents

Shropshire Council has said it does not plan to retaliate after its residents were told they could no longer use recycling centres in the neighbouring Telford and Wrekin Council area.

The Telford authority has taken the action because it said too many people living in neighbouring authority areas were using them.

However, the Shropshire authority said people from Telford would still be welcome to use its five recycling centres and it would "continue to liaise" with its neighbour.

People in towns like Shifnal, where the closest tip is in Telford, have complained it will mean longer journeys to dispose of waste and Wrekin MP, Mark Pritchard, called for the ban to be lifted.

In 2024, the Shropshire authority considered a similar move to ban people from Telford, but backed down after reaching an "informal agreement".

However, on 1 April this year Telford ended that agreement, when it announced people would have to prove they lived within its boundaries when visiting tips at Hortonwood and Halesfield.

This has angered east Shropshire towns' residents, who had taken their waste to Halesfield, because it is closer than the nearest Shropshire Council site.

They have raised concerns the move could lead to a rise in fly-tipping and one Shifnal resident Christine Saffhill, said: "This just does not make any sense especially now that fuel prices are so high."

Domestic items, such as a toilet, wooden chair, bin, clothing and a rug, fly-tipped in a rural setting — Shifnal residents are fearful that the ban will lead to fly-tipping to increase in the area

She said people would now be forced to make longer journeys and adding to pollution and accused the authorities of "behaving like quarrelling children".

Mayor of Shifnal Paul Williamson, said it "places an unfair burden on our community, requiring residents to undertake return journeys of up to an hour to facilities in Bridgnorth or Shrewsbury".

He said the "common sense approach" would be for a new mutual agreement to be reached between Shropshire and Telford and asked Pritchard and the town's three Shropshire councillors to lobby for such an agreement.

In the meantime, he said the town council was "exploring short-term options to help provide a practical and workable solution for residents, while longer-term discussions take place".

Shropshire Council said it would "continue to review" its own position, while liaising with Telford and Wrekin Council and the local MPs.

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